The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1887-12-20
CRIMES CRIMINALS
"a Negro Woman Places Her
Head on the Table
at AN IMPRoMPTU PASSOVER FEAST,

The last scene in the trial of E. L. Harper,
5he defaulting vice-president of the Fidelity
bank of Cincinnati, was dramatic and affect
ing. The evidence was all dead against the
defendant. 1t was shown that he had used a
large amount of the funds of the bank in his
RriEate speculations. Mr.. Harper's statement
Pm the stand instead of helping him tended to
mako his criminality more plainly apparent.
During the trial Mrs. Harper appeared in
fourt with her baby and remained by her
husbands side.
\ CINCINNATI, December 12.-The greatest
crowd yet gathered in the corridors of the
United States courtroom assembled this
morning long before the time for the assem-
bling of court.
In two minutes, the marshal entered follow
I'D BY Mr.. Harper, looking pale and concerned
Behind came his wife, looking as if she was
borne up by faith that she was to hear good
Aews from the jury. Miss Matthews, her sis
fer, followed When they were seated, the
CLERK took the sealed envelope, tore it open
and read the fatal words
4 1--WE, the jury, find the defendant guilty as
charged in the Indictment"
L AT 10 %, court directed Harper to stand up
1t was most distressing scene. The strong
man stood erect with tears coursing down his
cheeks, but no other sign of emotion save her
blanched face. Behind his chair with bowed
head sat his wife, in an agony that had no
better manifestation than the wringing of her
Matthews was far more demonstrative in still
depressed sobs and in her own distress, reached
over to try to comfort her sister. So they sat
while the court, with impressive solemnity,
Tecited the usual form of sentence, saying the
evidence left no doubt of the defendants guilt,
and that the offense merited the highest pen
atty of the law, which would be used now
Gen years in the Ohio penitentiary-and that
the marshal convey him thither at once.
Still no cutlery. Harper sat down, turning
TO his wife. Their lips met; her hands
were around his neck; his arms encompassed
her. The silence in the courtroom was awful.
Jurors wept; women and men all over the
courtroom were in tears. The silence was
broken by Mr.. Blackburn making last re-
quest from the court. That was that the order
for immediate Imprisonment be suspended and
gave as a reason that there was much business
TO be attended to by Mr.. Harper, in which his
wife was closely concerned, and it would be
Exceedingly difficult to attend to it, unless
Harper could remain here for few days. But
the court was relentless. Judge Sage said
there could be opportunity for his wife to see
him in Columbus, and he repeated the order
to the marshal to convey him thither today.
:. At 10 80 the jury was discharged and Mar
shal Umer conducted the defendant to the
marshal's office, where they spent some time.
Harper then went to the Jail, where he spent
the afternoon preparing for his departure.
His bedding, his trunk and his other proper
&y we've taken out and sent to his house. His
family joined him and lie bade them goodbye.
Mrs. Harper fingered after the others had de-
parted, and her farewell was spoken with him
alone,